In this workshop you will practice a short, realistic exchange in Spanish. You will learn how to politely get someone's attention, ask where the police station is, and understand simple answers about location and distance. The practice uses short recorded lines, so you can listen, repeat, and then try both roles yourself. You do not need to invent new sentences; you will work with the exact phrases provided. This keeps your speaking focused and helps you build confidence with a clear, useful situation.
Starting politely and asking the question
A good way to begin with a stranger is to use a polite opener. The line «Disculpe, ¿me puede ayudar?» means 'Excuse me, can you help me?' It is a safe and respectful way to get someone's attention before you ask your question. After that, you can ask the main question. The line «¿Dónde está la estación de policía?» means 'Where is the police station?' This is a direct but polite question, and it is widely understood. When you speak, keep your voice calm and clear. You can also combine the opener and the question in one short turn, as in «Disculpe, ¿dónde está la estación de policía?», which means 'Excuse me, where is the police station?' Practice saying the opener first, then the question. This gives the other person time to listen and prepares them to answer.
Understanding location answers
When someone answers, they often tell you the location. The line «Está a la derecha.» means 'It is on the right.' The line «Está a la izquierda.» means 'It is on the left.' Notice that both answers use está, which here means 'it is' for location. These are simple, common answers. In a longer answer, you may hear extra information. For example, «Está a la derecha, después de la farmacia.» means 'It is on the right, after the pharmacy.' Here the direction comes first, and then a landmark helps you confirm the place. Listen for the direction word first: derecha for right, izquierda for left. If you only catch one word, you can still understand the main idea. Practice repeating each answer slowly, then at a natural speed.
Distance and going straight
Sometimes the answer also includes distance or a movement instruction. The line «¿Está lejos?» means 'Is it far?' You can use this to check if the place is close or far. A common reply is «No, está cerca. Siga derecho dos cuadras.», which means 'No, it is close. Go straight for two blocks.' Here cerca means 'close,' and siga derecho means 'go straight.' The word cuadras means 'blocks.' This answer gives you two important pieces: it is not far, and you should continue straight. When you hear an answer like this, focus on the key words: cerca, derecho, and the number of blocks. You can repeat the answer back to check: 'Close, go straight.' This helps you remember and shows you are listening.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
¿Dónde está la estación de policía?
Where is the police station?
DON-deh es-TAH la es-tah-SYON deh po-lee-SEE-ah
Disculpe, ¿me puede ayudar?
Excuse me, can you help me?
dees-KOOL-peh, meh PWEH-deh ah-yoo-DAR
Está a la derecha.
It is on the right.
es-TAH ah la deh-REH-chah
Está a la izquierda.
It is on the left.
es-TAH ah la ees-KYEHR-dah
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Disculpe, ¿dónde está la estación de policía?
Excuse me, where is the police station?Está a la derecha, después de la farmacia.
It is on the right, after the pharmacy.¿Está lejos?
Is it far?No, está cerca. Siga derecho dos cuadras.
No, it is close. Go straight for two blocks.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided exchange: ask and answer
You will practice a short exchange between a visitor and a local person. One person asks for the police station, and the other gives a simple direction. Use only the recorded lines.
Your task: First, play the role of the visitor. Say the polite opener «Disculpe, ¿me puede ayudar?» and then the question «¿Dónde está la estación de policía?». Next, play the role of the local person. Answer with «Está a la derecha.» for 'It is on the right.' Then switch: ask again with «Disculpe, ¿dónde está la estación de policía?», and answer with «Está a la izquierda.» for 'It is on the left.' Repeat the exchange two times, changing only the direction answer.
Reply comprehension: choose the correct meaning
You will listen to a short answer and decide what it means. This practices understanding directions without needing to speak first.
Your task: Listen to «Está a la derecha, después de la farmacia.». Does it mean the police station is on the left, or on the right? Then listen to «No, está cerca. Siga derecho dos cuadras.». Does it mean the place is far, or close? Finally, listen to «¿Está lejos?». Is this a question about distance, or a direction answer? Say your choice out loud, then check with the answer below.
Recall and role switch: give the full answer
You will now recall a longer answer and practice both roles. This helps you remember the full direction, not just one word.
Your task: Play the role of the local person. A visitor asks «Disculpe, ¿dónde está la estación de policía?». Give the full answer «Está a la derecha, después de la farmacia.», which includes the direction and a landmark. Then switch roles: you ask «¿Está lejos?» about distance, and the other person answers with «No, está cerca. Siga derecho dos cuadras.». After that, say the full exchange once more without looking at the text.
Common questions
Do I need to memorize every word before I speak?
No. Start with the short lines and repeat them slowly. It is fine to pause and listen again. The goal is to become comfortable with the sounds and the order of the words. As you repeat, you will naturally remember more.
What if I do not understand the answer?
You can replay the recording. Listen for the key direction word first, such as derecha or izquierda. Then listen for distance words like cerca or lejos. Focusing on one or two words helps you understand the main message.
Sources and further reading
- spanish: ask for a police stationChecked September 2026
Practice real time conversations on Yapr for faster learning.
Take today's Spanish into a conversation with a Yapr AI tutor. Speak, make mistakes, and try again.
Practice on Yapr